Minister admits rail electrification 'challenges'

Transport Minister Lord Ahmad: electrification has posed 'challenges'

Members of the House of Lords have been trying to find an answer to one of the big unanswered questions of the moment: when will the rail line from Swansea to London be electrified?

The target was 2018, but that is a date now rarely to be heard from the lips of government ministers.

On Wednesday, it was Lord Ahmad's chance to be questioned over possible delays.

He told the House of Lords that it remained a priority but "construction and planning consents" have taken longer than expected.

The transport minister said the new chair of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, has been asked to look at the "deliverability and affordability" of the project and to report back by the autumn.

Network Rail has said it's committed to delivering electrification by 2018 but Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has indicated that the project could take longer than expected.

Lord Ahmad said: "The government is committed to delivering electrification from Paddington to Swansea, which is a priority and part of the largest enhancements programme since the Victorians. There are challenges which have arisen from electrification and construction and planning consents have taken longer than expected.

"That is why the secretary of state [Patrick McLoughlin] has asked Sir Peter Hendy to look into both issues of deliverabililty and affordability and he is due to report back on that in the autumn."

The minister was replying to a question from the Welsh Lib Dem peer Lady Randerson, who asked if electrification was being delayed by a lack of sufficient funding or "fundamental technical problems".

Lord Ahmad said it remained a priority and the UK government is working with the Welsh government on "issues" between Swansea and Cardiff.

Labour peer Lord Anderson of Swansea said it was a major matter for his city - and an opportunity to tell businessmen "there is life beyond Cardiff".

Other rail projects in England have been "paused" to give priority to south Wales electrification but no minister is ready to tell passengers when the first trains will run.